Two national studies released Thursday in Kansas City provide an overview of the arts ecology of the metropolitan area. By all accounts, the arts boosted the local economy despite the economic downturn.

The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday announced its "Big Five" - five ideas to move the region forward. The project launched in 2010, collecting nearly 200 suggestions. The list was narrowed down to 20 in July - and many of those ideas were related to arts and culture (including moving the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance downtown, which made the top 5).